Functionalist Talcott Parsons suggested that complementary roles for men and women in the family contribute to social stability. The husband/father performs the __________ tasks, which involve leadership and decision-making responsibilities in the home, and employment outside the home to support the family.
A) expressive
B) instrumental
C) reproductive
D) interdependent

Question

Functionalist Talcott Parsons suggested that complementary roles for men and women in the family contribute to social stability. The husband/father performs the __________ tasks, which involve leadership and decision-making responsibilities in the home, and employment outside the home to support the family.
A) ​expressive
B) ​instrumental
C) ​reproductive
D) ​interdependent

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons proposed that men's roles were instrumental, meaning they were tasked with providing for the economic well-being of the family, decision-making responsibilities, and leadership in the home. Women's roles were expressive, such as nurturing and emotional support. This theory was based on the belief that traditional gender roles were necessary for social stability. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. A is incorrect because the expressive roles are carried out by women, C is incorrect as it refers to reproduction not gender roles, and D is not relevant to the question.

Functionalist Talcott Parsons Suggested That Complementary Roles for Men and Women